Festive Desserts Worth Celebrating

Wrap up that dessert sale with holiday-perfect recipes

Make it a holiday to remember with head-turning desserts that answer the call for tradition and ring the bell of flavour innovation. That's no easy task, but the chefs at the Kraft Culinary Centre have struck just the right holiday note, developing new recipes with favourite holiday dessert flavours and forms. Those flavours include holiday superstars like eggnog, pumpkin, candy cane, cinnamon and chocolate. Forms take shape as cheesecakes, puddings, cakes and bars. "I think that's where you can really take flight this time of year," says Freeman Moser III, senior executive chef for Kraft Foodservice. "Take those flavours we all associate with this time of year and change up how they're presented."

"The purpose of a gift certificate is not to generate money through non-redemption,
but to make an emotional connection with the buyer," says Bill Main, a 30-plus-year industry vet and principal at Bill Main & Associates.

Create a unique tabletop display.
Put the gift certificate promotion in the middle of the table. Give it flair, too.

The server must reference the gift certificate on first approach.
The program will only work if the servers add it to their narrative. "Think about us for holiday gift certificates," or "Are you excited for the holidays?"

Create a value-added promotion.
I believe in deep discounts—my goal is to get people back in to spend money later. Sell a $50 gift card for $40.

Incentivize your servers.
Offer them gift certificates to your restaurant. If they sell three, they get one for themselves. Servers are your brand ambassadors—offering them gift certificates as incentive is a win-win.